ARMS & ARMOR

06.16.12

Dealer: Russia Sends Syria Weapons

Mikhail Metzel, File / AP Photo

They’re a "warning." That’s what Russia’s head arms trader on Friday called the high-tech killing gear that Russia is shipping to Syria to prevent other countries from getting involved as the situation continues to deteriorate. “I would like to say these mechanisms are really a good means of defense,” said Anatoly P. Isaykin, who runs the company Rosoboronexport. “This is not a threat, but whoever is planning an attack should think about this.” Fears over possible Russian military involvement in the region grew earlier this week after Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said Russia was sending attack helicopters to aid President Bashar al-Assad’s regime.